With about twenty-five minutes before sundown, Gigi moves along the eastern shore of Hawthorne Island, thinking through the clues and warnings she has gathered: Manga, Ra, Odette’s opera glasses, Brady’s connection to another player, and the mention of a dead girl. Savannah’s warning not to trust anyone in the game makes Gigi question whether Odette was telling the truth.

Gigi notices a glint of metal beneath thorny brush and digs through the brambles until she pulls free a large black bag. Inside, Gigi finds an oxygen tank, a wetsuit, a gold necklace with a deep blue-green ocean-colored stone, and a sheathed knife with thirteen claw-like scratches on the leather sheath.

Gigi puts on the necklace and examines the knife, convinced that every detail of the find must matter in a Hawthorne game. Gigi does not yet know how the objects connect to the larger puzzle, but Gigi believes she has found an exceptionally important cache, possibly tied to something hidden underwater.

Before Gigi can celebrate, Knox appears behind Gigi and demands the bag. Gigi recognizes Knox as likely the man Odette described in connection with Brady and the dead girl, but Gigi refuses to give up the supplies, keeping hold of the bag and knife.

Knox says he will not hurt Gigi because he understands the boundaries of the game, but Knox threatens to block Gigi’s path until Gigi hands over the bag, knife, and duct tape. Since sunset is close and Gigi is on the wrong side of the island while Knox can run fast, Knox gains leverage by wasting time Gigi cannot afford to lose.